Alarm apparatus



A 1941- A G. F. BLE'THEN 2,268,180

ALARM APPARATUS Filed aulyzs, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A J8 I GZZZBZeZIZeM -IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

3 0, 1941; G. F. VBLETHEN ALARM APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1940 I @020 QZfZZe INVENTbR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 30, 1941 1 UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to signal or alarm apparatus, one of the objects being to provide a structure which, upon the closing of an electric circuit, will operate to pick up a recorded message and transmit it by short wave broadcasting apparatus so that the message can be picked up by the police or other authorities within a reasonable distance.

A further object isto provide apparatus of this character which can be installed readily and includes, in addition to a rotatable record holder, a means for automatically applying a pick-up device to the rotating ratchet and subsequently lifting it therefrom and restoring it to its normal position at which time all working parts of the apparatus following transmission of the message, will be reset ready for further use.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus especially adapted for use in banking institutions and other places where it is desired to send out a call for assistance in emergencies. With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the apparatus, the only portion of the electric circuit illustrated therein being some of the contacts.

, Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1, the said contacts and their housing being removed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of themotor and adjacent parts, said view being a section on line 3---3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing th lever held in lowered position by the clutch arm. b

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6, Figure 1 Figure 'l is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of the controlling switches of the apparatus.

Figure 8 is a View showing the complete apparatus in diagram.

. The apparatus includes a casing ID in which through the top of the casing and provided with a turntable I2 for supporting a record l3. This record, which is of the disk type, has a track groove M the convolutions of which are more 5 widely spaced than ordinarily and slightly deeper than the usual groove, these grooves containing recordings of a message adapted to be repeated one or more times. For example the message can be a call for police to come to a particular address.

Mounted in the casing I9 is an electric motor l5 having an armature shaft IE to which is keyed or otherwise secured a ratchet wheel ll. This ratchet wheel is normally engaged by a spring-pressed pawl l8 mounted on one side of a gear I9 which is loosely rotatable on shaft It. The parts are so positioned that when the armature shaft is rotating in one direction, the ratchet wheel will drive through the pawl I8 to the gear I9. When the armature shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, however, the pawl l8 will be shifted out of engagement with the ratchetteeth and gear 19 will remain stationary.

Gear I9 meshes with an intermediate gear 29 secured to a counter-shaft 2! which, in the structure shown, is adapted to transmit motion through chain and sprocket mechanism 22, to a transverse shaft 23 mounted in suitable bearings.

By means of gears 24 motion is transmitted from the center thereof and is slidable androtatable on the shaft. Surrounding this sleeve and bearing against clutch member 26 is a coiled spring 28 the compression of which can be regulated by means of a nut 29 mounted on the threaded end of shaft I6. This clutch member 28 is held normally pressed against clutch member so that under certain conditions the two members will be caused to move together in one direction.

Extending from the margin of clutch member 26 is an extension 30 from which projects a clutch arm 3| bowed laterally as shown particularly in Figure 1. A coiled spring 32 serves to hold this arm normally inclined. upwardly as in Figures 1, 3 and 4 at which time a stop lug 33 projecting from the clutch member is spaced from a stop bracket 34 projecting into the path thereof.

A socket member 35 is fixedly mounted on the housing In and constitutes a bearing for the is journalled a vertical shaft, H extending cup-like head 36 of a shank 31 extending downwardly into and rotatable within the top of the housing or casing II]. This shank is held in place by nuts 38 and a washer 39 or any other suitable means and has a hanger 46 extending downwardly therefrom and. rotatable therewith. A lever 4| is fulcrumed between its ends in the lower end of the hanger 46 when one arm of this lever, indicated at 42, projects into the-path of the clutch arm 3| as shown particularly in Figure 4. A coiled spring 43 connects this arm to one wall of the housing orcasing I8 and serves to hold lever 4| normally in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The other arm 44 of lever 4| has an adjustable tension spring .45 extending downwardly therefrom and anchored to the casing or housing II].

A connecting rod 46 is plvotally joinedto and.

extends upwardly from the arm42 through an arcuate slot 41 in the top of the housing. I0, this slot being concentric with the shank 31.

Anchored in the head 36 so as to rotate therewith is a stud 48 or the like projecting downwardly from and made integral with a housing 49 which is open at the bottom. In this housing are journalled the end portions of a crosspin 56 extending through the tubular arm I extending from the pick-up device including the usual diaphragm stylus 52 and microphone 53 which latter is electrically connected to a broadcast transmitter indicated generallyat '54, this transmitter being preferably of low power so that the area covered thereby would only include that in which are located one or more portable or transmitting stations tuned to the same wave length as the transmitter 53.

A lever 55 is pivotally mounted on the pin 56 and extends beyond one end of arm 5| where it is pivotally engaged by the connecting rod 46. Lever 55 5| so that a limited up and down movement of the lever relative to the arm is permitted.

As will be apparent by referring to the drawings, the spring 43 holds lever 42 normally at one limit of its movement and at this time the spring 45 is extended along a line parallel. with the hanger 48. At the same time this spring 45 pulls down on lever 44 with sufficient force to cause lever 55 to. press downwardly on the lower end of slot 56 thereby holding the stylus out of contact with the record I3 but close to the outer convolution of the groove I4. When arm 5| is thus supported it transmits thrust through a pin 51 to a resilient contact 58 which is thus tacts being insulated from each other and from the pin and also from the housing 49 in which they are fixedly mounted. Likewise when the arm 5| is thus supported with the stylus out of contact with the record, the free end of lever 55, which extends under superposed pairs of contacts. permits the contacts of each pair to be spaced apart as shown particularly in Figure 1. In said figure the contacts of one pair works Within a slot 56 in arm invention has been illustrated in diagram in Figure 8. It includes a starting relay 66 and a holding relay 61. A double armature in the form of a lever 68 is normally spaced from the cores of both relays and has that arm thereof nearest relay 61, normally removed from spaced contacts 69 and I8. Lead-in wires from an outside circuit have been indicated at H and I2 and one of them is adapted to be connected through the contacts 69 and II! when closed,'to one side of the motor I5 while the other lead-in wire is connected to the other side of the motor. Included in the apparatus are two transformers indicated at 13 and I4 respectively. Transformer I3 is electrically connected to the starting relay 66 and to one side of a controlling switch I5. In the drawings two of these switches have been shown. It is to be understood that any desired number can be used. As illustrated particularly in Figure 1 each switch includes a stationary contact I6 connected to one side of the transformer while a movable contact I! is connected to the other side of the transformer. This movable contact is mounted on the stem I8 of a held away from another contact. 59, the two conhave been indicated at .60 and 6| while the con- The electrical apparatus forming a part of this plunger I9 having valved openings 89 and working within a dash-pot 8| containing a suitable liquid 82. A knob 83 or the like is mounted on the exposed end of the stem 18 and a spring 84 is interposed between this knob and the contact TI. Obviously when the knob 83 is depressed against the action of the spring 84, contact TI is brought against contact 16 and a portion of the liquid 82 is displaced upwardly through the plunger. When the plunger is released the spring 84 will return it slowly to raised position. Consequently after contact has once been made at 16 and I1, it will not be broken until after a predetermined time interval has elapsed following release of the knob 83.

One side of transformer 13 is also connected to contact 62. Contact 63 is connected to contact 69 while contact 58 is electrically connected to one terminal of the holding relay 61. The other terminal of this holding relay is electrically connected to the other side of the transformer I3.

One side of transformer I4 is electrically connected to contact 6| while contact 62 is electrically connected through a flasher 85 to one side of an electric lamp 86 the other side of which is .joined to the other terminal at the low side of the transformer 14. Obviously two or more of these lamps can be connected together in parallel as shown and can be located wherever desired. r 1

Normally the parts are positioned as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 8. When it is desired to broadcast a recorded signal one of the controlling switches I5 is depressed so as to bring contact 11 against contact 16. This promptly closes the circuit to starting relay 66 and when this relay is energized it attracts its armature 68 so that contact 69 will be thrust against contact 16. This closes the circuit to the motor which immediately starts rotating. Motion will be transmitted from shaft I6 through ratchet wheel I! and pawl I8 to gear I9 and thence through gear 28 and the chain and sprocket mechanism to shaft 23, gears 24 and shaft II. This will of course result in the rotation of table I2 and the record I3 thereon. As the shaft, I6 rotates, the clutch member 25 which moves therewith, instantly picks up theclutch member 26 which is thrust thereagainst. Thus this clutch'member 25 is caused to make a quick lever 64 thereby closing contact fill'against contact BI and contact 52 against contact 63. At t the same time arm willbe relieved from the restraining influence of lever 55wit-h the result that that end, thereof carrying the stylus52 will move downwardly by gravity until thestylus comes into contact with the record and is seated in the outer convolution ofthe groove I4. The pick-ups will act to convert the recorded waves into sound, which, in turn,will be picked up and transmitted on the predetermined wave lengths. Therotatin'g record will jcause the stylus 52 to swing slowlytow'ard the center of the record and as it thus travels, arm 5| will swing therewith about the longitudinal axis of shank 31. This will cause the lever 4|;also to move with shank 31 and hanger 40 and at the same time arm 44 will pull against the action ofspring 45. Rod 46 will move around within slot 4'|. When arm 5| gravitated as described, it released'the pin 51 so that contact was made at 58 and 59. This resulted in maintaining a closed circuit to the holding relay 6'! by way of contacts 62 and 63. Furthermore as contacts 60 and 5| are brought together by lever 55 the circuit to the flasher and the lamp or lamps is closedso that action of the stylus 52 in the groove l4, arm 42 gradually moves toward the free end of arm 3| and finally is pulled out from under said arm. As soon as this operation occurs the tensioned spring 45 pulls back on arm 44 so as to simultaneously pull downwardly through rod 46 on lever 55, thereby lifting the stylus 52 out of groove 4 and also rotating hanger 40 and lever 4| to restore the parts to their initial positions. Obviously when this action took place the contacts were instantly restored to; their initial positions and as the circuit to the motor was broken, said motor became deenergized. Thus the tension of the spring 32 becomes suflicient to rotate the clutch members 26 and 25 and the during this action the ratchet wheel I! will slip past the pawl I8 so that the gears will not be operated. Thus the clutch member 26 and the arm 3| will be restored to the positions as shown in Figure 4 and the apparatus thus reset to repeat the operation already described.

What is claimed is: e

1 Alarm apparatus including a motor, a normally open motor circuit, a rotatable record holder, means for transmitting motion from the motor to said holder, an arm mounted for up and down and lateral swinging movement, sound reproducing means including a stylus normally disengaged from but positioned to engage the record, a lever mounted for lateral swinging movement with the arm, a connection between the lever and arm, yielding means cooperating with the lever and connection for holding the arm and stylus normally raised from the record, a depressor arm, a friction slip driving connection between the motor and arm, and a spring for holding said arm normally in one position, said arm being positioned to engage the motoractuated lever and shift it, thereby to release the stylus and its arm for gravitation toward the record.

2'. Alarm apparatus including a motor, a nor mally open motor circuit, a rotatable rec ord holder, means for transmitting motion from themo tor tosaid holder, said means including a pawl and ratchet-mechanism, an arm mounted for up and down andlateral swingingmovement, sound reproducing means including a stylus normally disengaged from but positioned to engagethe record, a lever mounted for lateral swinging movement with the arm, a connection between the lever and arm, yielding means cooperating withthe lever and connection for holding the arm and stylus normally raised from the record, a depressor arm, a friction 'slip driving connection between the motor and arm, and a spring for holding said arm normally in one position, said arm being positioned to engage the motor-actuated lever and shift it against the action of the spring, thereby'to release the stylus and its arm for gravitation toward the record, said spring and pawl and ratchet mechanism constituting means for driving the motor to return the depressor arm to its normal position and release the lever and stylus arm for return to their normal positions by said yielding means.

3. Alarm apparatus including a motor, a normally open motor circuit, a rotatable record holder, means for transmitting motion from the mothe lever and connection for holding the arm and stylus normally raised from the record, a depressor arm, a friction slip driving connection between the motor and arm, and a spring for holding saidlarm normally inone position, said arm being positioned to engage the lever and shift it, thereby to release the stylus and its arm for gravitation toward the record, said stylus constituting means for engagement with the record for actuation thereby to swinglaterally out of normal position the stylus arm, the lever and the connection therebetween, and to place the yielding means under increased tension,

4. Alarm apparatus including a motor,a normally open motor circuit, a rotatable record holder, means for transmitting motion from the motor to said holder, said means including a pawl and ratchet mechanism, an arm mounted for up and down and lateral swinging movement, sound reproducing means including a stylus normally disengaged from but positioned to engage the record, a lever mounted for lateral swinging for holding said arm normally in one position, said arm being positioned to engage the lever and shift it against the action of the spring, thereby to release the stylus and its arm for gravitation toward the record, said spring and pawl and ratchet mechanism constituting means for driving the motor to return the depressor arm to its normal position and release the lever and stylus arm for return to their normal positions by said yielding means, said stylus constituting means for engagement with a record on the holder for actuation thereby to swing laterally out of normal position the stylus arm, the lever, and the connection therebetween, and to place the yielding means under increased tension, said yielding means constituting means for swinging the stylus arm, the lever and their connection laterally in the opposite direction when the stylus is disengaged from the record.

5. Alarm apparatus including a motor, a normally open motor circuit, a rotatable record holder, means for transmitting motion from the motor to said holder,,said means including a pawl and ratchet mechanism, an arm mounted for up and down and lateral swinging movement, soundreproducing means including a stylus normally disengaged from but positioned to engage the record, a lever mounted for lateral swinging movement with the arm, a connection between the lever and arm. yielding means cooperating with, the lever and connection for holding the arm and stylus normally raised from the record, a depressor arm, a friction slip driving connection between the motor and arm,

erallyout of normal position the stylus arm, the

lever, and the connection therebetween, and to place the yielding means under increased ten-' sion, said yielding means constituting means for swinging the stylus arm, the lever and their connection laterally in the opposite direction when the stylus is disengaged from the record, a starting relay, a starting switch included in a circuit with said relay, a holding relay connected to be energized simultaneously with the starting relay. a motor circuit including a normally open switch, said starting relay constituting means for actuating the switch to close the motor circuit and said holding relay constituting means for holding the circuit closed when the starting relay is deenergized, and separate means operated by the stylus arm and the lever and arm connection respectively for deenergizing the holda 

